Golf putter

ABSTRACT

The putter head is constructed with a front face with a small loft angle of from 0° to 10°. The club head has a center of gravity that is located behind the face and below a plane passing through the point of contact of the putter head and the center of gravity of the struck golf ball.

This invention relates to an improved golf putter. More particularly,this invention relates to an improved head for a golf putter.

As is known, various types of putters have been produced for the game ofgolf for “putting” a golf ball on a green into a cup. In some cases, theputter has been provided with a striking face that is disposed in avertical plane and in other cases, the striking face is disposed at anangle to a vertical plane, typically known as the “loft angle”. Allputters with any degree of loft on the striking face will create a backspin on a golf ball because of the horizontal path of the putter headbefore impact and because the loft creates a degree of obliqueness tothe impact launching the ball on or above a horizontal path. This, inturn, is due to the fact that the center of gravity of the putter headis at or above the contact point of the ball and/or that the center ofgravity is close to the face of the putter head and also close to thecontact point of the ball.

It is an object of the invention to provide a golf putter head thatavoids the creation of a backspin to a golf ball upon impact.

It is another object of the invention to create a minimal spin on aputted golf ball or no spin at all or even topspin.

It is another object of the invention to improve the mechanics of aputter for putting a golf ball into a cup.

Briefly, the invention provides a golf putter head having a front facefor impacting against a golf ball at a pre-determined contact point anda center of gravity disposed below a horizontal plane passing throughthe contact point.

The location of the center of gravity from the front face of the clubhead is from {fraction (1/2)} inch to 3 inches behind the face and lowerthan half the diameter of the ball from the sole of the head. Thus, whena golf ball is struck, at best, a minimal spin will be created on theball and, preferably, no spin or a top spin will be imparted to theball. The mechanism by which this occurs is referred to as “the verticalgear effect”. Thus, with the ball contact point above the center ofgravity of the putter head, during contact with the ball, the face ofthe putter will be inclined to move upward to rotate about the center ofgravity of the head thereby reducing the spin or creating top spin onthe ball. That is to say, a vertical gear effect comes into play becausethe center of gravity of the putter head is behind the face and lowenough to allow contact between the face of the putter head and the ballto be in line with or above a straight line between the centers ofgravity of the colliding bodies, i.e. the putter head and the golf ball,to thereby create a twisting moment such that the contact point betweenthe ball and the face is caused to move upward reducing any back spin oreliminating back spin or creating a launch without spin or creating topspin, any of which are dependent on the location of impact on the face.This launch condition of minimum or, preferably, no spin, or moreideally top spin, is ideal for a putt as the launch condition will startthe putt on a path rolling without the normal sliding motion associatedwith almost every putt using a normal putting stroke.

The front face of the putter head may be disposed angularly of avertical plane, for example with a loft angle of 0 to 5 degrees or moreof loft, or may have a convex face in either or both the vertical andthe horizontal planes.

The putter head is also provided with a unique contoured shape in ahorizontal plane that includes a triangular section extending rearwardlyof the front face and a pair of lobes that extend rearwardly from thetriangular section in symmetric relation about a centerline of thetriangular section. Each lobe of the putter head is also provided with arecess for receiving a weight, such as a tungsten weight, by means ofwhich the center of gravity of a club head may be adjusted. Thetriangular section of the putter head may also be provided with one ormore recesses for purposes of adjusting the center of gravity of thehead.

The putter head is also provided with a transversely extending shoulderat a forward end in which a bore is disposed for receiving a shaft. Thisbore may be vertical and off set from the center of the shoulder toaccommodate a left-handed person or a right-handed person.Alternatively, the bore may be placed near the centerline of the head atan obtuse angle to receive a shaft.

The putter head is constructed so that the center of gravity of the headis disposed on the center line of the head and at a point below ahorizontal plane passing through the contact point on the front face ofthe head which contacts the ball and the center of the ball.

The putter head also provides an extremely high moment of inertia aboutthe vertical and both primary horizontal axes, i.e. a horizontal axesthrough the toe and heel of the head and a horizontal axes through theface to back of the putter head. The high moments of inertia about thesethree axes in conjunction with the low center of gravity give anadvantage no other putter has.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a putter constructed inaccordance with the invention at a moment of impact with a golf ball;

FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged view of a putter head immediately priorto impact with a golf ball in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial side view of a putter head in accordancewith the invention disposed adjacent a golf ball on a green;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a putter head constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, the golf putter 10 is comprised of a shaft 11 ofconventional construction and a putter head 12 for putting a golf ball13 of conventional construction, e.g. of a diameter of not less than1.680 inches (42.67 mm).

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the golf putter head 12 has a front face 14that is disposed angularly of a vertical plane, for example at a loftangle of 3° to the vertical plane.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the putter head 12 has a contoured shape in ahorizontal plane that includes a triangular section 15 and a pair oflobes 16 that extend from the triangular section 15 in symmetricrelation about a center line (not shown) of the triangular section 15.The triangular section 15 has a pair of recesses 17 in an upper surfacethat are disposed symmetrically of the center line and that areseparated by a bar 18 disposed along the center line of the head 12. Therecesses 17 are provided to adjust the center of gravity of the head 12.

Each lobe 16 has a recess 19 in an upper surface into which a weight 20,for example a tungsten disk is mounted in fixed relation. These disks 20are provided for adjusting the center of gravity of the putter head 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, the putter head 12 a transversely extendingshoulder 21 at the forward end that is raised above the plane of theupper surfaces of the triangular section 15 and lobes 16. In addition,as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shoulder 21 has a bore 22 locatednear the centerline of the putter head 12 for receiving the shaft 11. Asillustrated, the bore 22 is disposed at an obtuse vertical angle, forexample of 72°, to a horizontal plane. As indicated in FIG. 1, the golfshaft 11 is of a bent type. Alternatively, the bore 22 for receiving thegolf shaft may be vertically disposed and spaced from the centerline ofthe golf shaft for receiving a shaft of different contour.

The putter 10 is constructed with the location and bend of the shaft 11such that the putter 10 is face balanced i.e. when the assembled putteris balanced in a horizontal manner, the face 14 will face upward.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the shoulder 21 also includes a groove 23 inan upper surface that extends perpendicularly of the bore 22 andparallel to the front face of 14 for alignment of the front faceperpendicularly to an imaginary line extending from the front face to acup or other point on a green to which the golf ball 13 is to bedirected.

As indicated in FIGS. 3 and 6, each recess 17, 19 extends toward thesole 24 of the club head 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, the club head 12 is constructed so that the centerof gravity 25 of the head 12 is disposed below the point of contact 26of the front face at which a golf ball 13 is to be impacted. Inparticular, the center of gravity 25 of the head 12 is disposed belowthe plane of a straight line 27 passing through the contact point 26 andthe center of gravity 28 of the golf ball 13. In addition, the center ofgravity 25 of the putter head 12 is disposed from one-half inch to threeinches behind the front face 14.

The position of the center of gravity 25 of the head 12 is adjusted bymaking the recesses 17 greater or less and/or by making the weights 20greater or less in weight.

Placement of the center of gravity 25 below the line 27 passing betweenthe contact point 26 and center of gravity 28 of the golf ball 13creates a vertical gear effect on the ball when struck as describedabove. That is to say, with the contact point 26 above the center ofgravity 25 of the head 12, the face 14 will be inclined to rotate aboutthe center of gravity 25 thereby avoiding placing a backspin on theball. Instead, and preferably, a topspin would be imparted to the ball.This launch condition is ideal for putting the golf ball 13, as the ballwill begin moving without a sliding motion or a backspin motion. That isto say, the ball 13 will begin rotating in a proper manner on the way toa cup.

The invention thus provides a head for a golf putter that avoidsimparting backspin to a golf ball when putted.

Further, the invention provides a golf putter who is able to launch agolf ball with no spin or with topspin.

Various modifications made in the putter head within the scope of theinvention. For example, a single recess 17 may be provided in thetriangular section 15 of the head 12 symmetrically of the center line ofthe head 12.

The high moments of inertia about three axes in conjunction with the lowcenter of gravity will give the advantage no other putter has.

The loft on the putter head may be as little as 0 degrees to the maximumallowed by the rules of 10 degrees. This will still minimize the backspin or even provide a little top spin. Only in putters do we seek tohave zero to no back spin but still a launch angle to get the ball offthe ground in the initial stages after impact. If a ball is hit withzero loft and a center of gravity at or even behind the face, the ballwill start out on a horizontal path which, because most balls settle ona green in a depression, will jump out of this depression and may bedeflected off line and also leave the face with an erratic speed fromone putt to another putt.

1. A golf putter head having a front face for impacting against a golfball at a predetermined contact point within a horizontal plane andhaving a center of gravity disposed below and behind the face and belowand behind said horizontal plane and said contact point.
 2. A golfputter head as set forth in claim 1 wherein said front face is disposedangularly of a vertical plane between zero and ten degrees or a convexface in either or both the vertical and the horizontal planes.
 3. A golfputter head as set forth in claim 2 wherein said front face is disposedat an angle of 3° to said vertical plane.
 4. A golf putter head as setforth in claim 1 having a contoured shape in a horizontal planeincluding a pair of rearwardly directed lobes disposed in symmetricrelation about a centerline of said head.
 5. A golf putter head as setforth in claim 4 wherein said contoured shape includes a triangularsection and said lobes extend symmetrically from said triangularsection.
 6. A golf putter head as set forth in claim 4 further having apair of weights, each said weight being mounted in an upper surface of arespective lobe.
 7. A golf putter head as set forth in claim 4 furtherhaving a pair of recesses in an upper surface thereof, said recessesbeing disposed symmetrically of said centerline.
 8. A golf putter headas set forth in claim 4 further having a recess in an upper surfacethereof forwardly of said lobes.
 9. A golf putter head as set forth inclaim 1 having a transversely extending shoulder at a forward end and abore in said shoulder for receiving a shaft.
 10. A golf putter head asset forth in claim 9 wherein said bore is disposed at an obtuse angle toa horizontal plane.
 11. A golf putter head as set forth in claim 9wherein said obtuse angle is 72°.
 12. A golf putter head as set forth inclaim 9 having a groove in an upper surface of said shoulder extendingperpendicularly of said bore and parallel to said front face foralignment of said front face perpendicularly to an imaginary lineextending from said front face to a cup.
 13. A golf putter head having acontoured shape in a horizontal plane including a triangular section anda pair of lobes extending from said triangular section in symmetricrelation about a centerline of said triangular section, a front face forimpacting against a golf ball at a predetermined contact point on saidcenterline and within a horizontal plane and a center of gravitydisposed below said horizontal plane and said contact point.
 14. A golfputter head as set forth in claim 13 wherein said front face is disposedangularly of a vertical plane.
 15. A golf putter head as set forth inclaim 13 further having a pair of weights, each said weight beingmounted in an upper surface of a respective lobe.
 16. A golf putter headas set forth in claim 13 further having a pair of recesses in an uppersurface thereof, said recesses being disposed symmetrically of saidcenterline.
 17. A golf putter head as set forth in claim 13 furtherhaving a recess in an upper surface thereof forwardly of said lobes. 18.A golf putter head as set forth in claim 13 having a transverselyextending shoulder at a forward end and a bore in said shoulder forreceiving a shaft.
 19. A golf putter head as set forth in claim 18having a groove in an upper surface of said shoulder extendingperpendicularly of said bore and parallel to said front face foralignment of said front face perpendicularly to an imaginary lineextending from said front face to a cup.
 20. A golf putter comprising ahead having a front face for impacting against a golf ball at apredetermined contact point within a horizontal plane, a center ofgravity disposed below said horizontal plane and said contact point, atransversely extending shoulder at a forward end and a bore in saidshoulder; and a shaft received in said bore.
 21. A golf putter as setforth in claim 20 wherein said head has a contoured shape in ahorizontal plane including a triangular section and a pair of lobesextending from said triangular section in symmetric relation about acenterline of said triangular section.
 22. A golf putter as set forth inclaim 21 further having a pair of weights mounted in said head, eachsaid weight being mounted in an upper surface of a respective lobe. 23.A golf putter as set forth in claim 22 further having at least onerecesses in an upper surface thereof, said recess being disposedsymmetrically of said centerline.
 24. A golf putter as set forth inclaim 20 having a groove in an upper surface of said shoulder extendingperpendicularly of said bore and parallel to said front face foralignment of said front face perpendicularly to an imaginary lineextending from said front face to a cup.
 25. A golf putter as set forthin claim 20 wherein said putter head has large moments of inertia aboutthree primary axes.
 26. A golf putter as set forth in claim 20 whereinsaid face faces upward when the putter is balanced in a horizontalmanner.